Primary sources are original records created at the time historical events occurred or well after events in the form of memoirs and oral histories. Primary sources may include:
These sources serve as the raw material to interpret the past, and when they are used along with previous interpretations by historians, they provide the resources necessary for historical research.
(RUSA, "Using Primary Sources on the Web")
Image source: OTIS College of Art & Design
Consult the secondary sources you have used.
Did the author utilize any primary sources? Check for primary sources listed in the bibliographies of the sources you used.
Can you identify an important person involved in the area you are studying?
Try looking for items written by that person such as book, articles, memoirs, letters, etc.
Search WorldCat (a database containing items from libraries worldwide) for items written by that person. Do a web search for the [person's name] AND (diaries OR letters OR archive OR manuscripts)
Is there an organization that would have kept records on the event or topic you are studying?
Try tracking down that organizations' website to see if they have made any records available online.
Search for archives & special collections
Use ArchiveGrid to search archival collections worldwide
Search the Internet for your topic/event/person AND ("special collections" OR archive OR "primary sources"). More and more primary sources are being digitized and made available online.
Still stuck? Ask a librarian!
Local archives and special collections can be a treasure trove of primary source material on local historical subjects.
Tips for visiting:
Search collections online ahead of time
Archives & special collections staff may need to pull items ahead of time so for the best experience, get to know the collection and staff know what you would like to view.
Review hours & make an appointment
Some archives & special collections have different hours than the libraries in which they are housed. Consider making an appointment with an archivist or special collection librarian to discuss what materials might best support your reserach.
A collection of books, journals, and manuscripts devoted to the scholarly study of slavery from a multinational perspective.
This database provides digital access to the American Antiquarian Society's comprehensive collection of more than 7,500 titles, in 5 series, published between 1684 and 1912.
A collection of news reports and transcripts from media sources outside the United States focusing on refugees and migration.
A collection of more than 170 periodicals by and about African Americans published between 1825 and 1995.
Scanned images of the paper (various titles) published between the years 1867 and 1922.
Full-page images of the New York Times from 1851-2021.
Full-page imaging of American newspapers from the 1800s, including every article, advertisement, and illustration.
A full-text archive of more than 200 years of The Times (London) from 1785 up until six years prior to today's date.
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